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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

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Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

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Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

• An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
• The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
  • "the consignment " (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "million united states dollars" (they want you to be blinded by the prospect of quick money, but the only money that ever changes hands in 419 scams is from you to the criminals)
  • "mariam abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
  • "sani abacha" (the name of a person or institution often appearing in 419 scams)
• This email message is a next of kin scam.
• This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
  • abacham47@yahoo.com (email address has been used in a known fraud before)

Fraud email example:

From: mariam abacha <mariabb2310@hotmail.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 17:42:14 +0100
Subject: reply urgent



Dear,I am highly compelled upon strict recommendation, to write you this very urgent and confidential letter.I do hope my letter will not embarrass you since I had no previous correspondence with you.I am sending this proposal with due sense of humanity, responsibility and with few awareness that you will give it a sympathetic attention.
I am Mrs.Mariam Abacha, the wife of General Sani Abacha,the Late head of state of Federal Republic of Nigeria .I am contacting you in view of the fact that we will be of great assistance to each other like wise developing a cordialrelationship.
My husband along with top officials of their past administration has been accused of looting several Billion United States Dollars from the Nigeria Government. The current attitude of the present government towards my family has indeed made life quite unbearable for us.
Fortunately, My humble self,HAJIA MARIAM ABACHA, has twenty million United States Dollars(US$20 million) cash, which I intended to use for investment purposes overseas.
This money is kept in a private security company. This money wasdeposited for safe keeping in the security vault of a freighting agency here by my husband preparotry to being air lifted abroad for investment purposes before his sudden death in the hands of Indian prostitues leaving a clause that it could only be claimed by an expertriate partner. It is only my late husband and myself that know where the money is kept.
Due to the current situation in the country concerning governmentsvendettas towards my family,we seek your assistance to transfer this money out of Nigeria for the purpose of investment as intended by my husband.Note that my family is currently being probed by this present government for alleged involvement in misappropriation of public fundsduring my Husband's regime.
Towards this effect, an embargo restricting my family membersfrom traveling or carrying out financial transactions without their express permission is in force. The government wants to ruin the family and cease all our funds even those with the swiss bank.You can confirm this from the website below:
http://www.odili.net/news/source/2003/nov/17/300.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1454884.stmHowever, I have an arrangement on how to freight this money to you after receiving some assurances from you of the safety our own shareand that you will only take the commission that we will offer you.This money personally belongs to my family and we intend that it still be used for investment. The freighting company to be used has now been introduced to me and as so on as we recieve your readiness to assist us recieve this fund we shall formalize the deposit documents in your name and reach an agreement with them to air lift the consignment for your pick up.Bearing in mind that your assistance is needed to transfer this fund.
We propose a commission of 30% of the total sum to you for the expected services and assistance. While 5% is mapped out for miscellaneous expenses. 35% for the welfare of motherless babies home all over the world which is my main target now that I am seriously sick due to stress and humiliation from my wicked government.30%,will be for the rest of my family with your assistance in helping them invest wisely in your country. Please take good care of them and show love to them.
On your positive consent, I shall expect you to contact me urgently to enable us discuss about this.Your urgent response is highly needed.I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinarily confidential,
PLEASE VIEW THIS AS A MATTER OF URGENCY AND ACT ACCORDINGLY. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR PROMPT REPLY TO MY CONFIDENTIAL EMAIL ADDRESS: abacham47@yahoo.com May God guide you,
Hajia Mariam Abacha
_________________________________________________________________
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Anti-fraud resources:

• What can you do when you receive 419 spam